Over 80 Air India Express flights canceled after crew members take mass sick leave

Air India Express, a Tata group airline, was forced to cancel more than 80 international and domestic flights after a large number of cabin crew members called in sick at the last minute.

According to the sources, some 300 staff members called in sick at the last minute and turned off their cell phones, leading to delays and cancellations on dozens of flights.

In a statement, the airline said Air India Express management was currently trying to contact the crew, who took mass sick leave to protest the airline’s new employment conditions.

“Some of our cabin crew called in sick at the last minute, as early as last night, which led to flight delays and cancellations. While we speak with crew to understand the reasons for these events, our teams are actively addressing this issue to minimize any inconvenience caused to our guests,” said an airline spokesperson.

“We sincerely apologize to our customers for this unexpected disruption and emphasize that this situation does not reflect the level of service we strive to provide,” the spokesperson added.

The Civil Aviation Ministry is said to have taken notice of the sudden flight delays and cancellations that began on Tuesday and persisted until Wednesday. Sources said civil aviation authorities were looking into the matter.

Meanwhile, Air India Express has assured that travelers affected by the cancellations will be offered a full refund or free rescheduling to another date.

“Customers traveling with us today are urged to check whether their flight is affected before traveling to the airport,” the airline said.